Hello Gents,

Been a while.

I cashed in a Christmas gift certificate and did something I have thought about for years- had one of my Marlin .30-30s rechambered to .30-30 AI. I've only had two range sessions with it so far so I'm still getting my bearings on the loads-- which is a bit of a challenge, but I had counted on it.

My plan is to head out early tomorrow and wring out some more 150 and 130 gr loads over the chronograph- early is the operative word 'cause it's already gotten hot in north Texas. But I'll be one step closer to a hunting load for this rifle to use in Alabama this season.

Now I know wildcat cartridges are not for everybody (still figuring out if it's for me!), but I'd be interested in other loaders' experiences with this round.


Rick

Have no experience with a 30 30 AI, but I have a 35 whelen AI and a 338-06 AI. Improving the 35 whelen is just a novelty as the velocity gains are very small. 338-06 AI gets about 50 -75 FPS more than the standard, so it really doesn't gain much either. I just like oddball cartridges also, and the blank look on someone's face at the hunting camp when you tell them its a 'three thirty-eight aught six Ackley improved'

Ha, yeah! And thanks. Of course I have .308s and .30-06s so I don't "need" a .30-30 AI, but I wanted one. P.O. Ackley's loads for this are pretty hot, and I have not even tried his max loads (and won't). At the time he came up with this there were not many ball powders available, so IMRs 3031 and 4198 got quite a workout. What's been interesting are the tests with Hornady LVR so far.

More lead downrange tomorrow, Lord willin'.

Ackley claimed he got 2700 fps using 3031. I recorded a speed of 2639 with a load that was below what he said was max, but it had pressure signs and I never got to max.

But I hunted with 150g bullets at 2560 and that is quite an improvement over what a regular 30-30 could safely do. That was 20 years ago and you may can beat that now. Good luck with it; it's a nice round.

Sorry for the delay, got sidetracked with a few things.

Thanks, and I saw 2538 (avg) with Ackley's starter load of 3031, but got pressure signs also at just a half grain above that, so 3031 does not appear to be the way to to. LVR is an interesting powder to load- before this rifle was rechambered, 38.0 LVR under the Speer 150 FN averaged 2514 fps, and that is a half grain under Hodgdon's max load for .30-30 Win. Experiments with LVR in the AI cartridge have been interesting, but no conclusions yet.

I thought you was dead.